Tag: happy holidays

BGS WRAPS: Coco Reilly, “Christmas With You”

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Artist: Coco Reilly
Song: “Christmas With You” (single)

In Their Words: “I didn’t set out to write a Christmas song, but as I was playing through this new chord progression Christmas lyrics just started coming to mind and it was done within an hour. At first I thought maybe it was a little silly, but it was stuck in my head for a whole week so I decided to give it a whirl. I have to thank Todd Stopera for recording this so last minute (we recorded this right before Thanksgiving, which is extremely late to be making a Christmas record!) He was so easy to work with and it came out almost exactly as I heard the production in my head.

“I knew I wanted to fully lean into a feel-good holiday vibe with a lot of percussion and warm harmonies. When the song was finished it made it made its way to Peter Asher, who I met via my manager since moving to LA. He has worked with some of my favorite artists of all time, so receiving such kind words from him is an incredible compliment. I can’t think of a better stamp of approval. Writing a holiday song is really intimidating, there are so many amazing ones out there already and it feels bold to throw my hat in the ring but it was so much fun to make and I only hope people are as happy listening to it as I was making it.” — Coco Reilly

BGS WRAPS: JD McPherson, “Red Bows (For A Blue Girl)”

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Artist: JD McPherson
Song: “Red Bows (For A Blue Girl)” (single)

In Their Words: “‘Red Bows (For A Blue Girl)’ was a title I had while writing the Socks album in 2018, but I never followed through with the idea. I have a couple of those. The idea came up to put out a 45 for Record Store Day, and it seemed like a good time to bring that tune to life. It’s about buying your special lady friend a nice gift for Christmas to cheer her up, but the character of the song is so manic, it’s no wonder the gal is down in the dumps! Love the maracas and background vocal shouts on this one; super fun to record. It’s been a blast to play live.” — JD McPherson

BGS WRAPS: Kara Grainger, “The Holiday Blues”

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Artist: Kara Grainger
Song: “The Holiday Blues” (single)

In Their Words: “In December, Nashville transforms into a Christmas wonderland and celebration of lights. I recently moved to town and wrote this song as my neighbors were already decorating their houses around Thanksgiving. ‘The Holiday Blues’ is about the feeling you get when such beauty and festivity is also accompanied by melancholy when missing someone you love. Christmas can be the most beautiful or hardest times of the year as we all well know, so I wanted to remind people not to get too caught up in the craziness, to just kick back and enjoy the season: ‘Don’t let the Holiday Blues drive you crazy, because pretty soon, pretty soon, it will be New Year’s Day.'” — Kara Grainger

BGS WRAPS: Keb’ Mo’, “Moonlight, Mistletoe & You”

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Artist: Keb’ Mo’
Song: “Moonlight, Mistletoe & You”
Album: Moonlight, Mistletoe & You

In Their Words: “After 25 years of performing without releasing a Christmas album, I felt now was as good a time as any to spread some love and compassion. There’s something about Christmas time that makes everyone’s hearts a little lighter and I wanted to contribute to the movement of spreading a little joy. I feel like I was able to accomplish that through the making of Moonlight, Mistletoe & You.” — Keb’ Mo’

BGS WRAPS: Katie Pruitt, “Merry Christmas, Mary Jane”

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Artist: Katie Pruitt
Song: “Merry Christmas, Mary Jane” (single)

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Merry Christmas, Mary Jane’ on Christmas Eve at my parents’ house when I was home from college. I was feeling pretty lonely, a lot of my friends had moved away, and I was fighting with my parents. I really just wanted to smoke some weed. I couldn’t find any, so I just wrote a song about it instead.” — Katie Pruitt

BGS WRAPS: The Christmas Jug Band, “Shoveling Snow”

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Artist: The Christmas Jug Band
Song: “Shoveling Snow”
Album: Live from the West Pole!

In Their Words: “Being a member of the Christmas Jug Band for over 30 years has afforded me the opportunity to write A LOT of Christmas tunes, most of which have the name ‘Santa’ in the title. In 2016 I was determined my new Christmas Jug Band tune would NOT have ‘Santa’ in the title. So that set me thinking about other things that are going on during December and the holiday season.

“After considering decorating Christmas trees, shopping for presents, cooking the Christmas dinner, etc., I landed on shoveling snow. I liked the idea, but I knew writing a song about just shoveling snow wouldn’t be all that interesting. But what if I made ‘Shoveling Snow’ a euphemism for shoveling something else? You get the picture. That opened up all sorts of possibilities for humorous lines to fill in the storyline.

“Once I had the concept, the song pretty much wrote itself. When I sat down at the piano to set it to music, it immediately felt right as a New Orleans/ Professor Longhair groove. It’s become one my favorite CJB tunes to play live and I’m not just shoveling snow!” — Paul Rogers, The Christmas Jug Band

BGS WRAPS: Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers, “December Again”

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Artist: Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers
Song: “December Again” (single)

In Their Words: “When we made the video for ‘December Again’, all I wanted to do was send it out the very next day. It’s so odd to know a piece of art exists and to not be able to share it. Alas, it was already almost January at that point and I figured it would come around again.

“To be completely honest, I never even thought this song would leave my journal. I love writing and have tons of nameless songs that just pop out and then never see the light of day. But, then something happens that sparks enough creative spirit to write out a chord chart and teach it to the band… Sometimes that part is the hardest because it takes a lot of vulnerability to open up your diary and share it.

“Felt like if we were gonna add to the shuffle of what is played in the airwaves at this time of year, it was important to include everyone, but still honor the profound spiritual connection that is brought out this time of year. Music is that thread. It’s what holds us all together.” — Phoebe Hunt

BGS WRAPS: Andrew Bird, “Skating”

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Artist: Andrew Bird
Song: “Skating”
Album: HARK!

In Their Words: “I’ve never had the impulse to make a holiday record until last February. I found myself enjoying the Vince Guaraldi Peanuts records and thought I’d book a few days in the studio. It was an excuse to play some classic jazz with my favorite musicians. A lot of folks have a hard time with the holidays, but they serve a purpose to us as a people — to create comfort, warmth, and atmosphere within the darkness and the cold that can crush one’s spirit. There are a couple originals in here that address this idea of light and warmth in the darkness as well as some classics that have some nostalgic resonance with me. Hark! What sounds come flowing alabaster?” — Andrew Bird

BGS WRAPS: The McCrary Sisters, “Joy to the World”

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Artist: The McCrary Sisters
Song: “Joy to the World”
Album: A Very McCrary Christmas

In Their Words:

“It brings us joy to realize that Jesus was born to bring peace, hope, and joy to this world.” — Ann McCrary

“He is our joy, and his birth was amazing and remarkable! His the true King!” — Alfreda McCrary

“’Joy to the World’ is a song that I think should be sung all year round, ‘cause if the world had more love and joy there would be peace towards all men and we would get along much better than we do. My prayer and my gift is that we try to have more joy in the world. That’s it.” — Regina McCrary

“’Joy to the World,’ bring much needed joy to this world!” — Deborah McCrary

BGS WRAPS: Silent Winters, “Christmas Morning”

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Artist: Silent Winters
Song: “Christmas Morning”
Album: Christmas Morning

In Their Words: “Christmas time always brings us back to a place of feeling at home and key memories always stick out to fill my heart at this time of year. Be it the feeling of joy spent with loved ones or the reminiscing of friends from what seems like another lifetime. This time of year also makes for hectic schedules and stress for some. ‘Christmas Morning’ is a song about reminiscing the best of times and making the most of the present, no matter what’s on your plate.” — Jonathan Chandler, Silent Winters